Perfect 10

I always knew that I wanted to be a mom but I never dreamed what joys in life were brought by such little things in life like hearing mommy for the first time, the sheer delight in them taking their first steps, cheering them on through everything that they try to do...and wishing you could bottle up these little people so that you could open the jar up to that special moment and relive it all over again. 

One of my joys in life turned 10 today, it is one of my pleasures and privelages in life to have her call me mom.

On the morning of April 30th, I awoke to some minor contractions and a sense of relief that I would finally get to meet my daughter, 2 weeks early but to me not a day too soon.  I cheerfully called into work and announced that I would not be coming to work that day.  Sadly to me...a few hours later...everything stopped.  Blaine and I eageryly went to the mall for a long walk and then an out to eat hoping that we could get things started again.  By 3pm still nothing so we went and picked up Justin from the sitters and brought him home.  We played the rest of the afternoon without any further contractions.  By 7pm I felt pressure in my lower back making my dear sweet 75year old nieghbor insist that I was still in labor.  I laughed and told her I think I was just lifting Justin to much; I saw the twinkle in her eye and heard her chuckle in her voice as she said "ok, we'll see her tomorrow".  Boy was she right!  At 9:30'ish that night Blaine called into the hospital, to advise what was going on.  No need to come in yet they tell us, wait until she cannot talk without labored breath.  Ok, I thought.  At 11:00 my contractions were very close but I could still talk well so we thought there was still some time...then a big one hit at about 11:30 and the contractions were about 4mn apart, up Blaine came from bed, called the sitter and out the door we went to drop him off...Doreene met us outside in her robe and wisked him away; thank goodness he was still only 21months old so he slept through most of this.  We quickly drove to the hospital and made it to the emergency room, they pointed us in the direction of the elevator and after several stops along the way to deal with contrations we fially made it to the elevator...then she holloars asking if I want a wheel chair, I gracefully decline and push the button.  We make it to the 6th floor and find the nurses waiting, as I start to get their gown....I feel a so familiar feeling...my water breaks! I am even more excitied and I suddenly remember that we are still in April and if she comes soon she will have a diamond for her birthstone - lucky girl I think.  They tell me that they have called Dr. Howden and he will be up within an hour and for me not to be too concerned as there is pleanty of time.  Then they actually check where I am at...it is now approximately 11:50 and she is ready to come ...NOW.  The nurses tell me I cannot push and that I must wait for Dr. Howden....I tell them I cannot and the head nurse announces that I must "hold" her in.  How does one do this I wonder...then I feel her pushing back on me and telling me to hold it...repeatedly she says this.  I tell her I am not pushing but she is coming anyway.  I was never so happy to see my doctor walk into my room but I don't think he was as happy to walk in and only have time to pull his watch off...no time he says to put on a gown as I watched him wisk off his watch and the additional nurses help him get gloves on..... the head nurse moves her hand and out comes my little girl.  Dr. Howden was there just in time to catch her for us, he smiled as he layed her on my chest and I felt my heart swell with more love than I ever thought one could feel. 

Ten years ago today, at 12:03am I gave my heart away for the 3rd time as my second child Makayla Rae Keller made her way into this world weighing in at 6lb's 8oz. 

Makayla came into the world the same way as she leads her life, confidently, with a mission, and no one stopping her, she wasn't born in April to get that diamond but I think she had planned it that way so that she could be our little May Day basket.  Makayla was named after her great grandpa on Blaines side, and Rae is after my only sister.

Justin was such a proud big brother, as I started to take pictures for her birth announcement he insisted that he too get to be in the picture, after all he was the big brother.  How could a mom disagree.

Makayla was a delight as a baby, once we were prescribed medicine for her reflux she was a very happy baby.  She slept through the night after only a few short weeks, we couldn't believe it since Justin was 19 months before he did!  Along with the reflux came a few challanges.  She could not be layed flat on her back nor on her belly, she had to be in an elevated position at all times.  Time quickly went by and my little tiny baby was now crawling, and getting into everything!

She was quite the go getter and even though it took her a little longer to start crawling, once she figured it out she was a speed crawler trying to keep up with her big brother.  On her first birthday, she was not quite walkng yet but her smile sure lit up a room and she was quite a little momma's girl. 

Before I new it her 2nd birthday arrived and I had a bright, very energetic little girl who talked up a storm.

Today, she is one of the lights of my life.  As she turns 10, I look back at how quicly the time has gone and I wonder if there is any way I can keep her just as she is; sweet, innocent, loveable, and still very much a momma's girl.  We baked a cake yesterday together to have a party with grandpa, grandma, my sister and her family, she loves to cook and she mixed and baked the cakes entirely by herself, then she let mom do the frosting and writing on the cake.

So today, I celebrate not only her 10th birthday; but I celebrate having someone as special as her in my life.  I believe God had a special plan sending her to me, she lights up my day each and every day with her smile, her zest for life, her eagerness to do her very best at everything she does, her sensitivity to those around her, her compassion for animals, the young and the old, and her want to be the best that she can be.  At the age of 10 her goal in life is to become a doctor, if she continues to have this dream I believe she can achieve it. 

My wish for you today my dear sweet Makayla Rae is that happiness surrounds you all through your life and that you don't let the road blocks that will always surface stop you from being who you are or stopping you from going where you want to go. 

You are truely an angel sent to us; happy birthday Makayla, I love you.

10 years of cuteness!